If you've ever had to paint a room, you know how confusing it can be to stand in the hardware store, see a can of paint next to another that's twice the price, and have no idea what the difference is. Thankfully the folks at Apartment Therapy can help, and explain why when it comes to paint, you really do get what you pay for.

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While there are great bargain brands of paint to be had, by the whole, the reason paint dips off so quickly in quality when it goes from expensive to cheap is because of what paint is actually made of. Apartment Therapy's Jennifer Hunter explains:

Paint is made up of solvents, pigments and resins. A solvent is the liquid carrier that suspends the pigments and resins. It allows the paint to spread evenly and then evaporates as it dries. Pigments are particles which give paint its color, and resins bind those pigments together to create the "film" of the final product.

So, just what's the difference between that $12 gallon and a seemingly identical $30 gallon next to it on the shelf? As you may have guessed, the bargain paint is diluted with more solvents (liquids) and contains larger particles of pigment. Better quality paint will be more concentrated with finer pigments and higher grade resins, so the final product will have more even color and a more durable finish. And that means one coat instead of several to cover your surface.

Ultimately, the suggestion is to go ahead and pick up the higher quality paint because you'll need less of it to get a good, even coat on your walls, which saves you time and saves you money in the long run. No one wants to go back to the hardware store and buy another can just to even out the coat, or because the color isn't quite right. Granted, there's probably a drop off between moderate and premium brands as well, so we'd suggest sticking with well-known brands, most of which have multiple lines to accommodate any budget.